Those Little Dirt Mounds? Earthworm Castings—Good News!

What Are the Clumps on My Lawn?

Small, volcano-shaped soil mounds are earthworm castings—a sign of healthy, fertile soil. Worms aerate, recycle nutrients, and improve structure.

On low-cut hybrid Bermuda or dichondla, hundreds of castings ruin the carpet look. On taller fescue, they're barely noticeable.

Attract birds (robins, starlings) with feeders/birdbaths.
Encourage toads, frogs, garter snakes.
Top-dress with fine silica sand + diatomaceous earth (DE) – abrasive to worms, but use sparingly.
Keep soil surface drier and more aerated.

No pesticide targets worms selectively. A few castings are a badge of honor; manage only if truly excessive.

Lawns: Mysterious Holes in Lawn: Wildlife Foraging, Not Disease; New Lawn Care in NJ: Skip Crabgrass Preventer, Target Grubs in June; New Marathon Fescue Sod Problems in Ojai, CA: Diagnosis and Fixes; Switching from Synthetic to Organic Lawn Care: Is It Too Late?; Shade-Lawn Failure: When Grass Can't Root in Wooded Areas; Diagnosing Unusual Lawn Fungi in Cool Climates: When to Seek Expert Identification; Palmetto Grass Identification and Weed Management; St. Augustine Problems in Central Texas: Brown Patch, Take-All & The Organic Fix; Leatherback Grub or Lawn Grub? The Importance of Proper Pest Identification Before Treatment; Diagnosing Brown Patches: Grubs vs. Fungus vs. Drainage

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